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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Pursue CB Mike Jenkins in Free Agency

January 31st, 2013 at 11:01 PM By Wolf Heard

In 2008, most fans and experts assumed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would select cornerback Mike Jenkins with their first round selection. Instead, the Bucs passed on Jenkins and picked Aqib Talib and, well, you know how that turned out.

With the Bucs in dire need of some help in the secondary, it might be time for the Bucs to think about snagging Jenkins again. The former University of South Florida star will be a free agent this offseason and could help improve a Tampa Bay secondary that ranked dead last in the NFL last season.

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound Jenkins definitely has the talent to be a solid corner. In 2009, he made the Pro Bowl in just his second season after recording 45 tackles, 19 passes defensed, and five interceptions.

But since then, his production has nose-dived. He has just 20 passes defensed and two interceptions in the last three seasons.

Part of the reason for that is because Jenkins got lost in the shuffle last season. Dallas paid big money to Brandon Carr in free agency and drafted Morris Claiborne in the first round last season. Having those two in the lineup, along with starter Orlando Scandrick, meant Jenkins played mainly as the dime back in 2012.

While the Bucs are likely to draft a cornerback in the first or second round this year and go after a few of the bigger named corners in free agency, Jenkins is a serviceable guy that should come cheap.

Because of that, the Bucs should look into bringing Jenkins back to the Tampa Bay area.

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In 1994, the Buccaneers selected quarterback Trent Dilfer in the first round (6th overall) of the NFL Draft. Tampa Bay waited 15 years to spend another first round pick on a quarterback before selecting Josh Freeman with the 17th overall pick in 2009.